External Links

(Note: CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external links.)

An Edmonton homeless shelter has been given seven million reasons to celebrate the new year.

The Hope Mission will receive $7.2 million from the provincial government to build a 52-unit housing complex near 106 Avenue and 107th Street with support services on site, the province announced Thursday.

The money is part of $100 million that was dedicated in the last budget to helping the homeless get off the street, the province said in a news release.

Bruce Reith, the executive director of the Hope Mission, said the permanent residences in the new facility should be open before the end of the year, thanks to the method of construction.

"It's an interesting concept because it's going to be precast concrete and it's almost like putting up like Lego," Reith said. "And it's going to be in four lots that have derelict houses on them now."

He said the apartments will be taken by "guys that had been homeless and they've come through the Hope Mission break-out program and then we put them into the apartments and then we give them the supports that they need to get on their feet [and] start working."